Thanks to a seven-run third inning the Giants picked up a 10-1 win at Washington. It looks like the day off between finishing their homestand and starting this roadtrip paid off for both the bats and Tim Lincecum.
Pitching with an extra day’s rest, Lincecum dominated the Nationals lineup through seven innings. He allowed a run on five hits while striking out five Washington hitters. Alex Hinshaw and Billy Sadler pitched perfect eighth and ninth innings to close out the lopsided game. Hinshaw struck out two of the three batters he faced, and Sadler one of his three.
John Bowker started the scoring with a RBI single in the second inning to give Lincecum a 1-0 lead to pitch with. Then the Giants blew the game open in the third inning, scoring seven runs. Lincecum also helped himself, drawing a bases-loaded walk to prolong the inning. Jose Castillo made the Nationals pay for that by drilling a three-run homer to highlight the scoring. That was Castillo’s only hit of the game. Surprisngly the only other extra-base hit was a double by Ray Durham who also hit two singles. San Francisco added two more runs late in the game, one in the seventh inning, and another in the eighth. Rightfielder Randy Winn, and catcher Bengie Molina also had two singles each. With the exception of Bowker, everyone in the starting lineup scored a run. Last night’s game was a good overall offensive performance and needs to continue, especially for the struggling starters.
Jonathan Sanchez will pitch against Shawn Hill in the second game of the four game series today at 4:10 p.m. The Giants will likely be without centerfielder Aaron Rowand, who left last night’s game after the sixth inning with a tight right quad.
